The Lions lost their unbeaten tour record just four days before tackling Australia after Jake White's Brumbies deservedly triumphed at Canberra Stadium.

In doing so, they became the first Australian provincial side since Queensland 42 years ago to silence the Lions' roar.

And there could be few realistic complaints from the visitors, who were outgunned up front for an hour before coach Warren Gatland summoned reinforcements off the bench.

Centre Tevita Kuridrani struck early for the game's only try, while Brumbies full-back Jesse Mogg kicked three penalties. The Lions, who were always behind, managed two Stuart Hogg penalties and two Owen Farrell strikes.

Hogg twice saw penalties hit the post, but a new-look three-quarter line of Christian Wade, Brad Barritt, Billy Twelvetrees and 36-year-old Shane Williams featured in a team that looked devoid of quality preparation time.

Scotland star Stuart Hogg kicking one of his two penalties for the Lions (Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

The backs were powerless at times, having to scamper and retreat as a disorganised and mistake-riddled Lions pack performance helped the Brumbies eight dominate.

Gatland will not be alarmed ahead of the first Test in Brisbane - his Test players were wrapped in cotton wool today - but hopes of an invincible tour are now over.

They fell behind inside five minutes after Williams - the oldest back to play for the Lions in history - had an early chance to show his pace, but the Brumbies cleared and put together a sustained passage of attacking play.

And it ended with Kuridrani barging through the attempted challenge of Wade and Rob Kearney to score a try that underlined how big a task the Lions faced.

It was the first time the Lions had been behind in a game since they trailed Queensland Reds 10 days ago and they were not helped by a malfunctioning lineout, with skipper Rory Best's erratic throwing a problem.

Scotland giant Richie Gray wins a line out ball for the Lions (Image: Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

The Lions should have opened their account midway through the half but Hogg saw a straightforward penalty chance bounce back off a post and the Brumbies escaped.

The Brumbies were content to play things tight and use their ball-carrying forwards, although the Lions had a fleeting opportunity when Williams jinked clear but was harshly ruled to have had a foot in touch.

Mogg then sent a 52-metre penalty just wide after Lions prop Ryan Grant was whistled by French referee Jerome Garces for offside, and the Lions still could not get going.

The forwards continued to struggle for quality possession, which meant a difficult opening 40 minutes for half-backs Hogg and Ben Youngs, and a first defeat on tour beckoned unless they could raise their game.

But Mogg made it 8-0 with a penalty on the stroke of half-time and despite Hogg responding, the Lions could have few complaints.

They began the second period with a greater sense of purpose and it took some organised defence to keep him out, but then the Lions' familiar problems surfaced.

A botched lineout led to a Brumbies break-out and when flanker Sean O'Brien was penalised for not rolling away, another successful Mogg kick restored an eight-point advantage.

The Lions continued to concede a ridiculous number of turnovers and with their set-piece not functioning, there was very little a hastily-assembled back division could do.

Grant conceded another penalty, this time for foul play, and Mogg completed his penalty hat-trick before a second Hogg strike kept the Lions in it.

Changes that had long been expected arrived midway through the second half when Gatland sent on a new front row of Alex Corbisiero, Richard Hibbard and Dan Cole, with flanker Dan Lydiate replacing O'Brien.

The Lions desperately needed some impetus after misfiring for much of the game, and Gatland decided with 18 minutes remaining that it was time for Farrell to replace Hogg as playmaker.

And his first contribution was to kick an angled penalty that brought the Lions back within a try of levelling up a game they had played second fiddle in for so long.

Another Farrell penalty made it 14-12, setting up a tense final nine minutes as the Brumbies tired and the Lions substitutes continued upping the ante, but it was ultimately all to no avail.

Lions coach Gatland conceded his side "got what they deserved" after seeing their unbeaten tour record disappear in a disappointing showing.

He said: "There's no excuses. The first-half performance wasn't good enough and we got what we deserved.

"It's just disappointing. In fairness to the Brumbies they played well, put us under pressure at the breakdown."

The Lions trailed 8-3 at the break after struggling in the first half but they put on a better showing in the second half to get themselves back into contention before falling just short.

Gatland said: "I was disappointed with the intensity of the first half, I thought we were much better in the second half. We just weren't quite good enough. We made a few changes, gave them a bit of a rocket at half-time and I thought we were much better in the second half.

"We seemed a little bit flat out there in the first half, played too much rugby in our own half and we probably needed to play a little bit smarter. It was a pretty tight game and there weren't a lot of opportunities."

Looking ahead to the weekend and the opening Test, Gatland said: "Lots of players will be disappointed but we just need to take it on the chin and start focusing on Saturday."

Skipper for the day Best, pulled no punches as he assessed his side's performance, admitting they had been nervy and outfought up front by a Brumbies side that he said showed much more hunger than the tourists.

Best said: "We got physically beaten up up front, they put a lot of pressure on the set-piece and we got a bit nervy, and all credit to the Brumbies they were hungrier than us right across the board.

"We were feeling very confident, we knew it was going to be a tough task but we just didn't turn up tonight. Right from the very off they just wanted it more, they took their chances and you have to give them massive credit."

Best also refused to use the changes made to the Lions XV as a reason for the performance, saying: "I don't think we're looking for excuses, we brought in quality players. When you looked across the team we had a quality team, we just got beaten up at the breakdown tonight.

"We definitely got nervy. At this level if you can't secure that ball you're always going to be under pressure. The forwards will stand up and take a lot of the heat, and deservedly so."

The Irishman added: "We let our standards drop tonight and it'll be up to the 15 and 23 guys picked this weekend to raise those again.

"We didn't want to lose the momentum that we've gained on the tour, but we've done that and now we have to dust ourselves down and see where we go from here."